Shock dampening post driver

Abstract

A post driver having rotational handles and a dampening device adapted to isolate the hands and arms of the user from shock.

Description

[0001]This is a Continuation in Part Application of application Ser. No. 11 / 867,669, which was filed Oct. 4, 2007 for a Shock Dampening Post Driver. As such, this application hereby incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of its parent application Ser. No. 11 / 867,669, including the specification, drawings and abstract thereof.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a post driver. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vibration dampening post driver with adjustable handles for driving posts into the ground more comfortably and with less risk of injury.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]Fences have been used to mark territorial boundaries, prevent trespassers from entering a property, and contain livestock. These fences require that hundreds or thousands of posts be driven into the ground at regular or evenly spaced intervals. Historically, fence builders used large hammers to drive posts, though this was backbreaking—...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]One or more of the embodiments of the present invention provide for an impact dampening post driving device which includes a shaft having an interior cavity extending to a downward facing opining or openings at a distal end of said shaft. Brackets are physically mounted onto the outside of the shaft for attaching the handles to the shaft. The handles are attached to the bracket by a floating mount. The floating mount allows for a dampening device or spring to be positioned between the handle attach points, or mounting flanges, and the brackets. The floating mount may also allow the handle to rotate between a first and second position about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the post driver shaft. For example, in one embodiment the floating mount includes a mounting flange of a handle and a rotation flange, both of which have oversized apertures, and the bracket has a similarly sized aperture where the mounting flange and the rotation flange are floatingly mounted to the bracket by threading an undersized bolt through the apertures and capturing the bolt with a nut larger than said apertures. A dampening device is then positioned within the floating region between the bracket and mounting flange. In this way, a dampening spring sits between each handle and the shaft, as opposed to the handles being mounted directly to the shaft. In one embodiment, the rotation flange has a leading edge with first and second ends. When the handle (and thus the rotation flange) is rotated to the first position, the first end of the leading edge of the rotation flange abuts the shaft of the post driver, preventing further rotation of the handle in that direction. Similarly, when the handle is rotated in the opposite direction to the second position, the second end of the leading edge of the rotation flange abuts the shaft of the post driver, preventing further rotation of the handle in that direction. In one embodiment, the rotation flange has an irregular quadrilateral shape which allows the handle to rotate between at least two positions about the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

[0012]A user can grasp the handles and: (1) position either or both of the handles in a position perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the shaft; (2) position either or both of the handles in a position which is X degrees offset from this perpendicular position; or (3) position either or both of the handles in any position therebetween. The handles may lock into place or may be free to rotate. A user can then lift the device over a post such that the post is aligned with the opening at the bottom of the shaft. The user can then force the shaft down over the post such that the post enters the interior cavity through the downward facing opening and strike the closed top end of the shaft. This creates vibration and shock in the shaft, but the dampening springs between the shaft and the handles greatly reduce the vibration and shock reaching the handles held by the user, thus reducing the force transferred to the hands, arms and wrist of the user.

Problems solved by technology

Historically, fence builders used large hammers to drive posts, though this was backbreaking—and often dangerous—work.

However, these traditional post driving devices caused a great deal of vibration and tended to be very jarring to the hands and wrist of the user.

Users of these post driving devices often experienced pain in their arms and back and typically experienced discomfort in their hands after repeated use.

Additionally, the handles of such post drivers are static, as their positions cannot be adjusted to afford customized comfort to each particular user.

However, these newer post driving devices with springs internal to the post tube are limited in that the size and number of springs utilized is limited, and thus the dampening ability is minimal.

While better than traditional post driving devices that have little or no impact dampening abilities, even these newer post driving devices do not contain sufficient impact dampening capabilities for many people who need to drive a large number of posts.

Also, the location of the dampening spring is not effective for dampening the forces transferred from the handles to the hands or wrist of the user.

Images